Headphone Actor (14 page)

—In the first place, what did this group do? And why was it formed?

Before Mary joined, this group consisted of only three members: Kido, Seto, and Kano.

Including me, there were currently seven members. Other than me, all of the members held “some kind of power.”

The members generally followed the leader, Kido.

This was all I knew.

Ene and Momo, in particular, didn’t seem to care much about the activities of this group, but those two were the most “abnormal” ones that lacked the ability to function properly in normal society.

Putting it like that, I came to think about how “joining a mysterious group and opening up to them without knowing anything” to be a slightly dangerous thing.

It had only been for a short period of time, but from my interactions with them so far, they didn’t seem to be bad people.

I hadn’t been able to do anything about Momo’s “power,” but these people had cared and been able to sympathize with her as friends.

I didn’t want to consider so much that it was for their own benefit, or they were possibly involved in some kind of criminal activities.

However, I was unclear on the details and reasons on why they had that “power.”

By the time Momo noticed she had one, she was already catching people’s eyes, and neither she, nor I, knew when it had begun or what the cause was.

But, from the way that these guys talked, they seemed to know the true meaning behind this “power.”

If that was really so, then honestly, who exactly were these people …?

“Here! Shintaro-san, I’ve brought your water!”

Just as I was in my utmost serious mode trying to unravel the mystery of these guys, Seto came back with the water bottle he’d bought and pressed it against my neck.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Geez!! Y-you …. Can’t you read the atmosphere a little!? I-I looked like I was right in the middle of something, didn’t I!?”

“Huh? Ohh, I apologize about that. I just saw the chance right in front of me and went for it, you see …”

Seto flashed a completely unrestrained grin, and stuck out his thumb.

“Jumping at the chance like that, are you a samurai!? Ahhh, I completely forgot what I was thinking about. Haah, well, whatever ..”

Just from being that tense for a short time, I was hit by an overwhelming lethargy. It probably wasn’t possible for me to become a serious character.

“Come now, Shintaro-san, it’ll be your loss if you don’t have fun today! We’ll come along with you, so how about a crash course on thrill rides!”

Bringing up the topic of that possibility out of nowhere, for some reason, his eyes were shining as if flames were ignited in them.

On the other hand, Kano muttered, “A crash course on attraction at eighteen, huh ….” and let out a delayed, stifled laugh a few seconds later.

“I won’t ride it again even if I die!! …. Anyway, you guys don’t have to stick around, so just go off somewhere without me ….”

In any case, I felt like it wasn’t a good idea to stay with them.

That’s right, it was nice to enjoy alone time by yourself sometimes.

No, wait a minute. Right now, Ene had moved to Momo’s cellphone, so the chance to be completely alone was ……

“—It has to be now!”

The moment that outburst left my mouth, my “desire to be alone” suddenly fired up.

Yes. 
Yes
. Come to think of, because I was always 
always 
being stalked by Ene, I would never have a chance to be completely alone again if I passed this up now.

At this rate, it might even be possible for me to sprout wings if I truly believed.

Determined, I swiftly jumped to my feet.

Blinking hard in surprise, Kano looked over at me in confusion.

“Eh, what is it ….? What’s wrong all of a sudden, Shintaro-kun ……. Stroke?”

“What!? No, I just thought about going off to be by myself for a while!! Sorry, but don’t follow me! See ya!”

Saying this, I walked away from them quickly, and slipped into the crowds of people.

I continued on like this, gradually blending in with them until my figure would be lost amongst so many others.

Yes ….! I had acquired my desire to have alone time in such an unexpected place.

How long had it been since I’d had any kind of privacy?

Because of Ene, other than when I was in the bath or using the bathroom, I was constantly living in fear of something.

When I slept in my bed, I would be woken up suddenly; when I used the internet, she’d always interfere; and if it looked like I was looking at a shady website, I would be scolded by my sister ….

—But today, I had finally been released from that curse.

Suppressing the urge to scream “AHHHHHH THIS IS THE BEEEEEST,” I checked my surroundings again.

If this was a truly natural amusement park, there had to be someplace that I could enjoy an afternoon nap. No wait, if that person wasn’t here right now, I could even on the internet without any interruptions!!

Ahhh … This is just like heaven. I’m so glad that I came today ….!

The world was overflowing with wonderful things. I was so sure that today would even turn into a wonderful day.

Surely, this was a gift from God, as reward for working so hard every da—

“Hey …..”

So annoying …. I’m at a really good part right now, so don’t talk to me.

Ahh …. Today is just so wonder—!

“
Heey
 
…. Shintaro, didn’t you hear me?”

—When my name was called, I returned to reality at once.

Although I had one foot into a different world due to the feeling of freedom, that voice held me back from taking the final steps.

…. Just who was it?

When I looked around, that stood a very easily-recognizable girl with white, fluffy hair, and now teary-eyed.

“….. Why are you ignoring me ….?”

“Eh? Ah—Ahhhhh, I’m sorry I’m sorry! Umm, you’re …. —right, Mary! Don’t cry! Okay?”

Mary was making an extremely unhappy face. Was this because I hadn’t replied to her for a few minutes? I had apologized, but Mary continued to pout with tears welling up in her eyes.

“…. Wh-what are you so upset for ….? Did something happen?”

In response to my question, Mary nodded sharply and pointed her right index finger at something.

The thing that she was gesturing to was a huge sign that indicated an attraction in the amusement part, saying “Great Ice Maze,” along with a huge castle-like structure made entirely of ice.

“What is that? … Are you trying to say you want to go in there?”

Before I even finished speaking, Mary began nodding vigorously.

…. Honestly, I wanted to say “Then why don’t you just go in?” and get away from this place. I’d finally acquired this time to myself, so why should I have it stolen by that childish attraction?

At least, that was what I would have said if it was the me from a while back.

However, if I said that here and now, this girl would probably burst into tears.

…. And what would happen from there? Simple; the surrounding people would judge me to be none other than a pervert trying to harass an innocent girl.

For certain, I would be taken away by the security guards, and furthermore, my skills would be exposed: “High school dropout” “Unemployed” “Shut-in” “Virgin” …………….

Based on that, I would receive the societal “death.”

I wouldn’t be able to talk my way out of it.

“…. I got it, Mary. It’s enough if I go in with you, right?”

“Yeah! I want to go in! Let’s go in together, okay?”

As she said this, Mary’s expression brightened in an instant, her once-moist eyes staring up at me and sparkling.

And so, the man, Shintaro(virgin)’s heartbeat rang out loud and clear.

Damn it …. What a shame.

I already had too many skills equipped.

It was unfortunate, but there did not exist a free slot to fit in the “lolicon” skill.

Farewell, “lolicon” skill.

Until the day should come that I lose my “virgin” skill, until then shall we meet again ….!

—And with that, without any particularly guilty feelings, Mary and I got in line for the “Great Ice Maze.”

It didn’t seem to be a very popular attraction, and with the length of the line, it would soon be our turn to be admitted.

However, something caught my interest. After I’d …. thrown up, the girls had gone off together on their own.

It wasn’t likely that they’d gotten into an argument and split up. If they had, Mary seemed like a girl that would be crying nonstop about it.

“Hey, where’s everyone else? Why’re you out here by yourself?”

“Eh?  Ah, well, about that … We went to ride the roller coaster again after that, but I was the only one that got in another line, and we got separated.”

Mary answered without even looking at me, as she was too engrossed in the pamphlet she had picked up at the entrance.

It would appear that she had circled all the places of the attractions that she wanted to go to with a red pen.

…. Wh-what an unexpectedly lively kid. She planned to go around the park all by herself ….

I had the impression that she was the type that would hate to be on her own, but was hit with a painful, sad feeling when I discovered that wasn’t the case.

“I-I see. Well, as long as Kido and Momo are together, it should be fine …. So, why did I have come along with you for this attraction, anyway?

Mary seemed to be concentrating too much on her pamphlet to answer verbally, and instead pointed to a sign near the entrance.

When I looked at where she was pointing, I saw that there was a poster that said, “Admission to Pairs Only”.

I see. So there were these kinds of attractions.

I had a feeling that it would be something like this …. But I was still hit with that painfully sad feeling again.

As the line shortened, and we were next to go in, I started to feel a little excited.

Come to think of it, it’d been a while since I’d come to an amusement park.

… And thinking of it even further, this would be my first time experiencing an attraction alone with a girl.

When I glanced over at Mary, she had already put away her pamphlet, and seemed unable to suppress her excitement for the attraction up ahead.

“Sh-Shintaro, this is a Great Maze, isn’t it ….? Do you think I should drink some tea quickly, just in case ….!?”

“Huh? Ah, I guess so. Why not?”

As soon as I said this, Mary took out a canteen from the pouch she was carrying, and seemed quite determined to take a drink from it.

Somehow or other, this girl was so pure ….. However …

Damn it …..! Don’t come, “lolicon” skill! I already said that there’s no room for you!

“Alright, please go in next~”

The attendant person said this, and opened the door to the attraction.

From beyond the door came a cooler breeze than I had imagined.

Next thing I knew, it was our turn.

I quickly turned to Mary, and, sure enough, she was rushing so much that she wasn’t able to put the lid on the canteen back on correctly.

“H-hey, Mary, there are other people waiting behind us, so put the lid back on once we’re inside ….”

“O-okay …!”

Mary replied, and teetered through the door.

When I followed her inside, it really was like an actual ice maze.

The road was lined with varying sizes of icicles that made it look like a surreal world from an RPG dungeon.

It was much colder than I expected, and the temperature cooled my warm body.

It had to be something like negative twenty degrees in here.

“Woah, it’s pretty chilly in here. It’s a good thing you warmed up earlier with the tea, Ma …..”

I trailed off, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Although it’d only been a couple seconds, Mary was standing there shivering with a pale expression, still holding onto the canteen.

“I-It’s ….. s-s-s-so …. so c-cold ….. I-I’m going to d-d-die …..!”

“…… What did you even come here for?”

I was stunned. This girl ….. Was she really so sensitive to the cold?

Why did she even choose this kind of attraction, then?

“I-I …. I d-didn’t think … it’d be this c-cold …..”

“……….”

Although we’d barely made it past the “M” in “maze”, figuratively speaking, Mary seemed like she’d already reached her goal, in a different manner of speaking.